EP0277675A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for focusing electromagnetic waves or sound
Assignee: Technology Foundation STW
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Filing: 1988-01-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A device for focusing electromagnetic waves or sound, comprising a focusing element (1) fitted in a holder (2). This holder is supported in such a way that moving in three directions perpendicular to each other (X, Y and Z directions) is possible. Drive units (6, 26, 34) are used to move the holder independently in these three directions. To provide for very accurately controllable small movements of the holder in the X, Y and Z direction, the holder rests by means of hinges (7) on at least three legs (4) which at their bottom ends are connected by means of hinges (7) to a structure (5) which can be moved in the Z direction. The holder (2) for movement in the X and Y directions is hingedly connected by two perpendicular edges to a strip which can be moved to and fro by means of a drive element (26, 34).
Inventors
- 👤 Godefridus Jacobus Brakenhoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:45
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/02; G02B7/04; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/26; B23Q1/34; B23Q1/36; G02B21/00; G02B21/0004; G02B21/002; G02B21/24; G02B21/241; G02B21/242; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/35; G10K11/352
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Device for focusing electromagnetic waves or sound, comprising a focusing element (1) fitted in a holder (2) which is supported in such a way that moving it in three direction perpendicular to each other (X, Y and Z directions) is possible, while drive units (6, 26, 34) are present to move the holder independently in said three directions, characterized in that the holder (2) rests by means of hinges (7) on at least three legs (4) which at their bottom ends are connected by means of hinges (7) to a structure (5) which can be moved in the Z direction, and that the holder (2) for movement in the X and Y directions in hingedly connected by two edges which are perpendicular to each other to a strip which can be moved to and fro by means of a drive element (26, 34).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Device for focusing electromagnetic waves or sound, comprising a focusing element (1) fitted in a holder (2) which is supported in such a way that moving it in three direction perpendicular to each other (X, Y and Z directions) is possible, while drive units (6, 26, 34) are present to move the holder independently in said three directions, characterized in that the holder (2) rests by means of hinges (7) on at least three legs (4) which at their bottom ends are connected by means of hinges (7) to a structure (5) which can be moved in the Z direction, and that the holder (2) for movement in the X and Y directions in hingedly connected by two edges which are perpendicular to each other to a strip which can be moved to and fro by means of a drive element (26, 34).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the hinges (7) at the top and bottom end of the said legs (4) are made of short wire pieces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the legs (4) are disposed at an angle in such a way that the optical axis of the moved focusing element remains directed virtually at a fixed chosen point during the X, Y movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
Device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the structure (5) which is movable in the Z direction is made up of a bottom plate (13), comprising three parts (13a, b, c) the central part (13c) of which is hingedly connected to the outermost parts 13a, b), and at one or more points lying centrally between the hinges is connected to a plate (8) provided above that, which at one edge is movable up and down by a drive unit (6) for the Z direction, and at the opposite edge is hingedly fastened.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the three parts (13a, b, c) form a single plate and each of the hinges (14) between the central and the outermost parts consists of grooves which are provided at a short distance from each other and which are cut in starting from various surfaces of the plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
Device according to one of Claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the structure (5) which can be moved in the Z direction is made up of two intermeshing hingeable parts (42, 43) whose hinges (44, 45) lie directly opposite each other and a strip (46) which is connected to one of said parts (43) and which is connected by means of wire hinges (47) to the other part (42) (Figs. 7 - 10).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that a bending plate (25) in the X direction, a corresponding bending plate in the Y direction and bending strips (9) for the Z direction are equipped with bending sensors to permit a determination of the X, Y and Z position of the focusing element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that if a focusing system of the immersion objective type is used, the device can be closed with a thin glass plate (51) in such a way that the focusing point of the focusing system lies outside the scanning device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the two edge hinges of the holder (2) are made of a piece of wire (23, 32) and the hinge movement of one of said pieces of wire is limited by a bending plate (30) which does permit hinge movement in the Z direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive units (6, 26, 34) comprise a fixed electromagnet and a movable piece of magnetic or magnetizable material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
Scanning microscope provided with an object holder and an objective, characterized in that the object holder assumes a fixed position and the objective is designed as a focusing element according to one of the preceding claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2015732A
Cited
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